Yard form

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE DESIGN CHARACTERIZED BY BEING DISMOUNTABLE INTO A COMPACT FORM AND, WHEN ASSEMBLED, PROVIDING A STARSHAPED DESIGN FOR RECEIVING MATERIAL SUCH AS COLORED STONE.

Feb. 16, 1971 J. MBLE AL 3,562,993

YARD FORM Filed Feb. 7, 1969 INVENTOR. JOHN T. HUMBLE BY AUGUST C. METCALF WM F'Mm ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,562,993 YARD FORM John T. Humble, 2627 2nd E. 74104, and August C. Metcalf, 515 N. Gary Place 74110, both of Tulsa,

Okla.

Filed Feb. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 797,404 Int. Cl. E02d 27/36; E04f /14 US. Cl. 52-626 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS-REFERENCE This disclosure is not related to any pending United States or foreign patent application.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In more recent years landscape architecture has placed greater emphasis on the use of designs of colored material of a non-vegetable type. More specifically, landscape designers have utilized designs including colored stones, such as chipped marble and the like for enhancing the beauty of yards around homes, offices, factories, and so forth.

The usual means for providing the outlines for such designs includes the utilization of strips of metal of widths varying between four and eight inches which are bent into the desired designs and positioned in the earth. These forms serve a twofold purpose. First, they provide the outline of the desired configuration of the design utilizing the colored material, such as stone, and second, they provide a boundary to prevent grass from encroaching into the design. Because of the use of such materials the average home owner, or even a professional decorator, frequently requires professional help to cut and shape the metal designs.

This invention provides apparatus which can be utilized by any person, either home owner, or professional designer, for obtaining an outline of a configuration for use in achieving an artistic ladscape design.

While the invention is particularly adaptable for use in outdoor landscape designs it is also useful in design for indoor applications. It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for decorative design useful for receiving decorative material, such as colored stone or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a decorative design adaptable to be assembled in kit form and to be easily assembled by non-skilled persons to obtain a landscape design.

These general objects, as well as more specific objects of the invention, will be understood by reference to the description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus of this invention assembled to provide the form for a star-like design particularly useful for around a tree, lamp pole, or the like, and adaptable to be assembled from relatively small parts.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of portions of the components making up the apparatus of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The basic elements of the apparatus are a circular perimeter member 10 (which in the illustrated arrangement is formed of two assembled portions 10A and 10B); a plurality of vertical attachment elements 12; a plurality of thin elongated rectangular shaped dividers 14; and a circular inner member 16 (which in the illustrated embodiment, is formed of two semi-circular portions 16A and 16B).

The circular perimeter member 10 is of thin material providing an upright short relatively large diameter tube. The circular member 10 is adapted to be placed on a flat surface wherein a decoration is to be made, such as on a yard or lawn, if used outdoors. In the preferred arrangement the total apparatus, including the circular perimeter member 10, is sunk at least partially below the surface of the earth. The circular member 10 forms a barrier against the growth of grass by the spreading of the root system.

In the preferred arrangement, the circular member 10 is, as illustrated, made of fragments or segments of a circular cylinder which is shown in FIG. 2, designed so that each segment removably receives adjacent segments. In the illustrated arrangement only two segments are utilized, each being semi-circular although it is understood that if desired any number of segments may be utilized, each forming a proportionate portion of a complete circular cylinder. As shown in FIG. 2 the segment 10B of the circular perimeter member telescopically receives tongue portions 10C of the segment 10B at one end and reverse at the other.

Aflixed to the inner circumference of the circular perimeter member 10 are the vertical attachment elements 12. In the illustrated arrangements the attachment elements are equally spaced around a total inner periphery of the circular member 10. Each of the attachment members is in the configuration of an upright generally tube member having a longitudinal slot opening 12A. Thus in cross section, each of the attached elements 12 is of generally C-shaped configuration. The attachment elements 12 are afiixed to the periphery of the circular perimeter member 10 in such a way that the slots 12 face the axis of the circular perimeter member.

The divider members 14 are each of thin material and are of rectangular configuration. The divider members are positioned within a circular member in the configuration of a star. The points of a star so formed by the divider members 14 are received in the attachment ele ments 12. That is, one end of each of the divider members 14 is received in the slot 12A so that two of such divider members '14 are received by each of the atached members 12. The inner ends 14A of the divider members 14 are received in pairs by an attachment element 12 thereby held in position.

In the illustrated arrangement the design includes an optional element, that is, an inner member 16. When such inner circular member 16 is utilized the portions of the attachment elements 12 forming the star design are aifixed to the exterior circumferential surface of the inner member segments 16A and 16B.

As an additional option feature of the invention there is provided a plurality of L-shaped clip elements 18 having a vertical leg 18A and a horizontal leg 18B. The vertical leg 18A of each clip element is afiixed to the inner surface of the circular perimeter member in spaced relationship with the horizontal surface 18B appointing towards the axis of the circular perimeter member. The leg 18B includes an opening 18C which can receive a nail or pin 20 to hold the device in position on the earth or on the floor if the apparatus is used indoors.

It can be seen that the apparatus of this invention is adaptable to be made in relatively small portions and can thereby be easily packaged for retail sales. A home owner, or even a professional interior decorator or landscape architect can assemble the elements together to form the design Without calling upon skilled metalworkers or other craftsmen. The elements of the invention may be made of any type of metal including steel or aluminum, or the elements can be made of plastic.

The design of the invention is such that it can readily be formed about a tree, lamp post, pole, mailbox or any such similar structure. The dimensions of the apparatus can vary greatly and will normally be governed by the size of the element which the design is to be formed about. That is, if the circular inner member 16 is to encompass a relatively large tree then the circular perimeter member 10 will be correspondingly relatively large in diameter whereas if the circular member is to encompass a yard lamp pole which is normally about three or four inches in diameter, then the relative size of the elements can be much smaller.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particuarity, it is manifest that many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus for providing a decorative design form useful for receiving decoration material, such as colored stone or the like, comprising:

a circular outer member of thin material providing an upright, short, large diameter tube;

a circular inner member of thin material providing an upright, short tube of length equal said circular outer member and of diameter substantially less than said circular outer member and positioned coaxially of said circular outer member;

a plurality of vertical attachment elements, a first portion of which is affixed to the interior surface of said circular outer member at equally spaced intervals and a second portion of which is afiixed to the outer surface of said circular inner member at equally spaced intervals, each of said attachment elements being defined as an upright generally tubular member having a longitudinal slot therein, said tubular attachment elements each thereby being of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the slots therein of those elements afiixed to the outer member oriented towards the inner member and those affixed to the inner member oriented towards the outer member; and

a plurality of thin, elongated, rectangular shaped divider members each having an inner end and an outer end, the divider members being positioned between said circular outer member and said circular inner member to form the configuration of a star, the ends of two divider members being received within and held in place by each attached element.

2. An apparatus for providing a decorative design according to claim 1 wherein said circular inner and outer members are each comprised of a plurality of arcuate sections, each of which sections attachably receive, at its ends, adjacent sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,704 9/1904 Mainzer 52315 1,539,148 5/1925 Sylvester 52311X 2,166,588 7/1939 Hanson 52-663 2,299,318 10/1942v Forsberg 94-8X FOREIGN PATENTS 713,964 8/1931 France 94-8 ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

